Behind a single-seater on monitor lies a particularly complicated world of know-how, technicians, and engineers. Formulation 1 and Formulation E share a number of points but in addition symbolize two utterly completely different classes in how they conceive car improvement, each as a result of nature of the vehicles themselves and a few financial constraints.
In Formulation 1, for instance, whereas remaining inside the regulatory quantity limits, groups have vital design freedom on the aerodynamic and chassis fronts, permitting them to discover completely different ideas from staff to staff. Conversely, in Formulation E, it was determined to depend on a single producer for aerodynamics and chassis, leaving extra room for powertrain improvement.
It’s exactly within the powertrain area {that a} central distinction emerges within the method to improvement. Earlier than the freeze on present items, Formulation 1 allowed steady improvement of each {hardware} and software program, for each the interior combustion and electrical elements, making vital efficiency leaps doable even in the course of the season.
Why FE focuses on software program
Conversely, in FE, improvement is split into two approaches: {hardware} improvement is proscribed to a two-year cycle, whereas software program improvement is totally unrestricted. On the {hardware} facet, as soon as the unit has been homologated, elements can’t be modified for the subsequent two seasons, no less than till the car’s evolution is launched. This additionally permits producers to homologate a brand new powertrain that may bear one other two-year cycle.
Nevertheless, whereas {hardware} improvement follows a cyclical sample to assist include prices in a financially sustainable collection—the place the annual finances per staff is capped at round €15 million in comparison with Formulation 1’s present €140 million—the true battleground in Formulation E is software program, which is arguably extra immediately related to the automotive business.
In Formulation 1, till the freeze in 2022, groups have been allowed 5 updates per season for the facility unit software program linked to the ECU, in addition to for the ERS and management unit purposes. Since 2023, just one software program model per season has been permitted. As soon as the database is about, groups can alter its utilization based mostly on monitor layouts and particular wants. Nevertheless, the core software program stays unchanged, with uncommon alternatives for updates.
In distinction, in Formulation E, given the FIA-imposed limitations on {hardware} improvement, there’s vital freedom in software program, which producers sometimes replace each two to 3 races after a validation section within the simulator. It is a essential facet for a number of causes: first, as seen up to now two years, it permits vital progress within the standings, and second, as a result of nature of the vehicles themselves.
Software program improvement improves effectivity
In Formulation E, effectivity is essential. Every automobile has a set quantity of power to finish the ePrix, however a part of that power doesn’t come from the battery; relatively, it’s recovered throughout braking. The extra environment friendly a automobile is at managing power restoration and cost, the higher the benefit it positive factors.
Improvement additionally revolves round how the system recovers power throughout braking or raise and coast, requiring shut collaboration with the motive force’s preferences. Moreover, software program influences how power is deployed and impacts the automobile’s steadiness.
It’s no coincidence that after being developed in specialised departments, software program is validated by drivers within the simulator to evaluate not solely its effectiveness but in addition its affect on car conduct. In FE, software program improvement is twofold: whereas the bottom software program is designed by the powertrain producer, buyer groups can even modify it.
Usually, past the mounted framework set by the producer for system operation, buyer groups have entry to change 10 to fifteen% of the code for personalisation. This will look like a small margin, nevertheless it impacts essential points resembling power restoration parameters, which is why buyer groups can generally problem the producer’s efficiency.
Software program will probably be a key consider F1 once more from 2026
In F1, software program improvement is at the moment restricted by laws, however from 2026 it can develop into a key facet as soon as once more. This isn’t solely as a result of power administration will develop into considerably extra complicated, as beforehand analyzed, but in addition as a result of groups will probably be allowed to replace software program a number of instances in the course of the season.
From 2026, every producer will probably be permitted to make use of 5 completely different software program variations per season, reducing to 4 in 2027 and three from 2028 onward. As a result of very nature of the longer term energy items, which is able to remove the MGU-H, groups might undertake vastly completely different power deployment methods all through a lap, with various acceleration curves relying on whether or not they prioritize higher acceleration or a unique power distribution.
With the 2026 laws making {the electrical} part the focus—the place energy output is break up 50/50 between the interior combustion engine and the electrical system—power administration will develop into a essential issue, and extra environment friendly software program may make a decisive distinction. This won’t solely contain software program improvement for bettering CFD fashions or car conduct within the simulator however, maybe most significantly, for optimizing the administration of future energy items.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
